Daily Escape

Photo by Brendan Lynch

Half Dome

Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite’s most familiar rock formation, the Half Dome rises dramatically above the Yosemite Valley for nearly 5,000 feet (8,800 feet above sea level). A popular destination for many hikers, it affords splendid views of the surrounding Nevada Falls, Liberty Cap and valley landscapes from the summit. However, reaching that summit is another matter. An arduous 16-mile round trip to the top (about 12 hours of hiking total), the Half Dome demands that you earn its views.